Running-gear



(No Model.)

w 2 SheptS-Sheet 1. J. H. VAN 'STE-ETER 8v G NQDOW. RUNNING GEAR No. 603,241. Patented Apr. 26, 1898.

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J. H. VAN STEETER- & G. N. DOW.

- RUNNING GEAR.

Patented A r. 26, 1898.

No Mddelf Elm-603,241."

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UNITED STATES JOHN H. VAN sTEETEH AND GEORGE PATENT ()EEIcE.

N. Dow, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

RUNNING-GEAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 603,241, dated April 26, 1898.

Application filed June 12, 1397.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOHN H.VAN STEETER and GEORGE N. Dow, citizens of the United States,residin g at Salt Lake City,in the county of Salt Lake, State of. Utah, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Running-Gear, of which the followingis a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Our invention relates to the running-gear for wagons.

The objects of our invention are to relieve the king-bolt from draft strain and distribute such strain equally on front and back axles; to relieve the reach and hounds from strain, and thereby prevent breakage; to protect the reach, axle, sand-board, and plate from wear; to keep the uprights in proper position, and to make the wagon cramp freely at all times.

The invention will first be described and then specifically pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of the improved running-gear for wagons. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the rear end of the tongue and the front bolster and adjacent parts. Fig. 3 is 'a rear perspective of the rear bolster, reach, and connected parts. Figs. 4 and 5'are detail views.

A is the front and B the rear axle.

B is the front bolster, and B the rear bolster, and D is the reach. The middle portion of the reach is provided, as usual, with apertures d for the pin 6 of the rear hounds E.

F are the front hounds, to which the rear end of the tongue 0 is pivotally connected by means of the bolts 0.

The sides of the reach D are provided with longitudinal grooves d d, in which lie the parallel draft-rods D, the front ends of which are connected at the front end of the reach by means of the curved cross-piece D These rods D extend to the rear end of the reach and are there connected by a cross-plate D and nuts (1 d The rear bolster is provided with a plate G, having a rectangular opening 9 for the reach, and notches g at the ends of said opening for the rods D. The rods D are provided in rear of said plate G with adjustable blocks H H, between which and the plate G are interposed yielding washers I I, preferably of Serial ll'o. 640,543. (No model.)

hard rubber. The blocks H H are adjusted by means of recesses 01 d in the rods D, engaged by the keys h h, passed down through apertures in said blocks and through the said recesses, the lower ends of the keys being provided with split locking-pins h h to prevent accidental displacement.

The rods 'D D are held to the reach at the middle and by means of a sleeve J, provided with grooved sides j j, registering with the grooves (1 cl in the reach and adapted to protect the rods when cramping the wagon.

K is a clevis on the rear end of tongue 0 and provided within the curved cross-piece D with a curved block K, secured by a bolt in. This block is free to work vertically and laterally on the curved cross-piece D and also transfers a portion of the draft strain from the tongue to the rods D, which in turn apply it tothe rear bolster B. In starting the team the Washers I I serve as a cushion, and this is also the case when the wheels strike an obstruction.

The upper and lower straps of the clevis K extend along the upper and lower sides of the tongue to the doubletree L, where they are secured by the wrench-bolt L.

M is a bolt passing through clevis and tongue, fastening on bottom through clevis, and passes through-an oblong hole protected by Washer in clevis to allow sufficient lateral motion to clevis when the wagon is cramped.

By the above construction it will be seen that the king-bolt N, which connects the front bolster B with axle A, is relieved considerably from draft strain, which is distributed to the rear bolster and axle by means of the rods D and clevis K.

What we claim is 1. The combination with the front and rear bolsters and axles, and the reach, of draftrods extending from the front end of the reach along its sides to and connected with the rear bolster the front ends of the rods being-connected bya cross-bar, and the tongue pivoted to the front hounds and having a clevis at its rear end having a cross-piece engaging said cross-bar; substantially as described. v

2. The combination with the front and rear bolsters and axles and the reach, of draftrods-extending from the front end of the reach along its sides and connected to the rear bolster, a curved cross-bar connecting the front ends of said rods, and the tongue pivoted to the front hounds and having a clevis on its rear extremity provided with a curved block engaging said cross-bar; substantially as described.

3. The combination with the reach and front and rear bolsters, the latter being adjustable, of rods extending alongside the reach from its front end and provided with adjustable blocks, engaging the rear side of the rear bolster, the front ends of said rods being connected by a cross-bar and the pivoted tongue having a clevis at its rear extremity engaging said cross-bar; substantially as described.

4. The combination with the reach, the front axle and bolster, and the adjustable rear axle and bolster, of the rods provided at the front end of the reach with a curved crossbar and extending rearwardly through and beyond the rear bolster and there provided with recesses or notches, adjustable blocks on the rods and provided with keys to engage said recesses, and the pivoted tongue connected with the said curved cross-bar; substantially as described.

5. The combination with the running-gear and the draft-rods extending from the rear bolster to the front end of the reach and there connected by a curved cross-bar, of the tongue pivoted to the front hounds and provided at its rear end with a olevis containing a curved block engaging said curved cross-bar, the upper and lower clevis-straps extending along the tongue to the doubletree-bolt which passes through them, and a second bolt passing through the clevis-straps and tongue in rear of the doubletree-bolt; substantially as described.

6. The combination with the wagon running-gear, and the draft-rods extending from end to end of the reach and connected in front thereof by a curved bar, a cross-plate connecting said rods at the rear end of the reach, a plate at the rear side of the rear bolster and provided with an opening for the reach and notches for the rods, blocks on the rods, yielding washers on the rods between the plate and blocks, of the tongue connected with the front hounds and the front end of the draft-rods; substantially as described.

7. The combination with the wagon running-gear reach which has longitudinal side grooves, sleeves on the reach, and the draftrods extending along said grooves and through the sleeves, the front ends of the rods being connected by a cross-bar and their rear ends being connected to the rear bolsters, of the pivoted tongue having a draft connectingalso with the front ends of said draft-rods; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we ailix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN H. VAN STEETER. GEORGE N. DO\V.

Witnesses:

MARY RANDS, BENJAMIN W. JENNANS. 

